By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Texas Legislature recently held a hearing on House Bill 52, a companion to the Senate Bill 8, also known as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act. The bill proposes that individuals use bathrooms aligning with their birth certificate, with non-compliance leading to penalties. Despite the bill’s aim, law enforcement officials testified that the bill is unworkable and could endanger people. Supporters brought up the culture war, however, law enforcement stated the bill would not improve safety.
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Texas constable tells legislators ‘We’re not interested in being the potty police’ at bathroom bill hearing. The father of a transgender child said that in nine years of working near a court bathroom, he has gotten zero complaints about people using it.
The heart of the matter lies in the simple, yet powerful statement of a Texas constable: “We’re not interested in being the potty police.” This isn’t just a casual dismissal; it’s a clear stance against what many see as an unnecessary and intrusive overreach of legislative power. It’s about prioritizing actual public safety and law enforcement duties over what, at its core, boils down to policing people’s choice of bathroom.
The constable’s perspective is further amplified by the testimony of a father, who also happened to be in law enforcement, sharing his experience. For nine years, he worked near a court bathroom and he hadn’t received a single complaint regarding someone’s use of it. This observation effectively dismantles the narrative that these bills are based on, which is the immediate threat of danger. It is a fact that undermines the very premise of the proposed legislation, bringing into stark relief the question of *why* such laws are even being considered.
The father’s personal connection to the issue adds another layer of significance. His child’s journey of self-discovery, from identifying as they to transitioning and identifying as a he, gives a poignant human dimension to the debate. It highlights how these bills don’t just affect abstract concepts, but real families, and real children. It’s a reminder that the people being targeted are, first and foremost, just that, *people*.
This perspective from law enforcement personnel is especially powerful. The implication is clear: law enforcement resources are finite, and using them to monitor bathroom usage is a blatant misallocation of those resources. The constable also made a humorous remark about not wanting to be the “potty police,” which may have been made in jest, but it highlights the absurdity of being expected to become the arbiters of where people can use the restroom. It’s a diversion from real issues, like, as pointed out, distinguishing between hemp and marijuana, and this kind of distraction is not only unproductive but counterproductive.
The counter-arguments are interesting. The supporters of these bills offer a very different viewpoint. It’s a stark contrast between the anecdotal fear and the concrete experience of someone working near these very bathrooms. It’s interesting how some are using religious beliefs to push a very particular agenda and it’s a very concerning juxtaposition.
The focus on bathroom bills also raises questions about priorities. Instead of addressing real problems, some politicians are choosing to legislate on topics that appear to have no substance behind them, which is odd. Their actions feel like more of a performative exercise. It feels like a manufactured crisis.
The opposition to these bills often comes from a genuine concern for safety, and it is understandable. There’s a desire to protect children and uphold the safety of society. It’s this mindset that is being used to divide people in an effort to get into a few people’s pockets.
Ultimately, the case made by the constable and the father emphasizes a simple truth: these bills are largely unnecessary, and that, in reality, they do more harm than good. The lack of incidents, the cost of enforcement, and the emotional impact on transgender individuals and their families all point towards a more reasonable and compassionate approach. As the father points out, this is about accepting people as they are.